6024 King Edward I was
withdrawn from her second period of mainline running in preservation during
November 2002. The overhaul is in the hands of the 6024 Preservation Society
Ltd at Tyseley Locomotive Works (TLW).

6024 is now at Old Oak Common depot in London ready for the next railtour. Note that Old Oak is a working railway depot and is not open to the public.

From now on updates will be on a more irregular basis depending on as and when things are happening. A weekly update showing the working party cleaning the loco and coach wouldn't make for interesting viewing!

During the week the locomotive and support coach passed all their official examinations with flying colours. The fire was lit on Thursday afternoon with the loco first being moved on Friday. On Saturday, with the railway press in attendance, the locomotive was again on the move once a few minor leaks etc had been attended to.

6024 brews up in the morning sun at Tyseley. October 02 2004

Huw Button works on a leaking draincock. October 02 2004

Colin Henderson oils the top slidebar. October 02 2004

However a few others things got done during the day too!

John Salter (left) and Keith Clarke rub down the front section of running plate as it needs another coat of paint. October 02 2004

The society has made use of two shipping containers as a parts and equipment store. The small of the two is no longer needed so has been emptied and cleaned prior to being returned to the hire company. October 02 2004

Tim Watson (left) and Leon Salter mark out water levels on one of the water wagon tanks. October 02 2004

With pressure on "the clock" and a bright fire in the firebox 6024 is not far off being ready to be moved. October 02 2004

6024 edges forward under her own power out of the shed and towards the turntable. October 02 2004

'Round she goes on the turntable with Steve Underhill at the controls. October 02 2004

6024 was then posed near the TLW museum and office. October 02 2004

She was then moved up the yard. October 02 2004

A blue sky and sun in Birmingham helped to show the loco off to best advantage. As can be seen there are still a few small detail painting jobs to be finished but we are almost there! October 02 2004

Now back on the ashpit road the hopper doors were operated for the first time with ash in the pan. October 02 2004

Keith Lines puts the new hardwood cab floor in place. October 02 2004

Back on road 19 the air pump was given a good run. During the day the locomotive had operated in vacuum mode. October 02 2004

So all being well there will soon be a mainline test run followed by the 'Evening Shakespeare' runs detailed above. Cleverly a long booked trip to Argentina prevents the webmaster being around for any of this but these overhaul pages will be updated on my return in late October.

In the meantime I am off to search out more of the work of L.D.Porta including his first loco - a 1949 built, 2120dbhp, metre gauge, 4 cylinder compound 4-8-0 currently stored at Mate de Luna depot in San Miguel de Tucumán: